Tracey Nanstad - Beadweaver and Photographer Extraordinare

I'd like to take a moment to introduce Tracey Nanstad of A Beadiful Mess.  Besides having a really cool name for her blog, Tracey is an extraordinary nature photographer and an accomplished beader.  Better yet, she's my Bead Soup partner this time around.  Yep, I couldn't resist the siren call of Lori Anderson's Bead Soup party and came running to sign up once again.

In case you're not familiar with the Bead Soup Party, Lori pairs beaders from around the world.  Each set of partners then exchange special packages, containing a focal bead/pendant, a clasp and any other little beady goodies they want to stick in the package.  You can see the lovely package Tracey sent me above left, including the organizing tray and vials!  And a roll of wire - looks like I have some wire working in my future. 

Here's a closeup of some of the lovely goodies.  The Bluebird focal is her original design.  The 13 is a reference to this year - I had to ask then felt really silly once I heard the answer. 

With both silver and bronze components, I could go in so many directions.  Need to make some decisions soon and get stitching, because our reveal is April 6th.  That's coming up fast, now!


But before I let you go, here are a few examples of Tracey's work to support my earlier claims.  Tracey's nature photography:

photo by Tracey Nanstad

photo by Tracey Nanstad

Aren't they gorgeous?  I just chose two of my favorites, but her blog is filled with her amazing photography.

And a couple of her past Bead Soup projects:

design by Tracey Nanstad

design by Tracey Nanstad

Now it's time for me to start cooking!

Focus on Life 10/52 - Packages in the Mail

This week's theme is All Wrapped Up, but what I'm thinking about right now is unwrapping.  Specifically, tearing open wonderful packages that arrive in the mail.  Isn't it the most wonderful thing when you arrive home after a long day to see a package waiting for you, tucked into your front door.  Sitting there, patiently waiting for you to come a long, claim it and find out what's inside?

I've been most, most lucky recently! 

First, I received a wonderful package from Jeannie Dukic.  I was the lucky winner of one of her wonderful blog give aways where she was giving away several of her new polymer clay pendants.  Jeannie does an incredible job with packaging.  Opening the box, I found the tin in the back right, with a a beautiful polymer clay lid.  Inside the tin, I found her wonderful packages, including the cutest little envelope for her business cards.

I haven't had the heart to take the pendants out of their clever packages yet, but I promise to share pictures when I do.  In the meantime, here's a close up of her papercut decorations.

Thank you so much Jeannie!  I already have plans for the hot pink/orange Half Lotus charm.  Just need a wee bit of time in my schedule to finish putting it together. 

This week, two more packages arrived in the mail!  One from my Bead Soup partner, Tracey Nanstad, which I will share in a separate post.  And the second was COOKIES from Sarah of Saturday Sequins, one of my bestest blogging friends. 

Homemade Peanutbutter Chocolate Oatmeal cookies, along with a little note saying they were Mr. Sequin's favorite recipe!  Now wasn't that a wonderful package to unwrap?  Yum!  Thank you Sarah! 


This immediately makes me want to turn around and send someone a package, because it's almost as much fun to wrap and send as it is to receive and unwrap.  So, if you'd like to potentially get a small package from me (it might just be a decorated letter, or it could be cookies, or beads - who knows?) leave a comment saying so and I'll randomly pick several of you to send something to. I'll do the drawing next Wednesday.